The Press., 1887-12-22

N
 With the number for January, Scrib. ner's Magazine begins auspiciously its sec- ond year. The features of the new year promise to be more interesting and valua- ble contributions to literature, and the publishers announcement of increased ex- cellence in illustration is evidently to be richly fulfilled.
 The first of a series of thoughtful and charming essays, by Robert Louis Steven son, k entitled "A Chapter on Dreams" In it he tells in a personal, intimate way the stories of "My Brownies, God bless them who do one-half my work for me while am fast asleep, and in all human likelihood, do the rest for mo as well when I am wide awake and fondly suppose I do it for myself" The oligin of "Dr. Jekyll and MT. Hyde" and "Olalla" is incident ally related. These papers will attract wide attention by reason of their freshness of thought, grace of style, and delicacy of fancy.
 The leading article of the number-"The Man at Arms," by E. H. Blashfeld and k. W. Blashfeld-is is very richly illustrated by the former. The paper describes the man at arms from the time of Charlemagne (800) to the perfection of armor (about (l450), and is the result of study and re- search continued from time to time for several years. The illustrations are based upon the unique collection of military manikins in the Paris Museum of Artillery, and upon old manuscripts, prints, tombal efigies, etc. Many of the suits of armor described are closely associated with emi- nent characters of history and fiction. In the February number the decline of armor will be traced in another handsomely illus trated article.
 MT. Edward l.. Wilson contributes an interesting account of "The Great Pyra- mid" of Cheops, which describes the ap- pearance and structure of that ancient mon ument nsrrates the incidents of an ascent and descent pictures the view from its summit, and tells much about it's history and the curious speculations to which it has given origin, with beautiful illustra tions. Another attractive illustrated arti- cle is Japanese Art, Artists and Artisans. !"
 The fiction is an exceptionally strong feature and much of it is abundantly illus trated. The first of three-part story by H. o. Burner, entitled Natural Selection. A romance of Chelsea Village and East Hampton Town" is delicately humorous sketch of New York life. "The End of the Beginning" is short story, pleasingly told, by George A. Hubbard. The serial of the year, "First Harvests," is by J. F. Stimson, who signs to it his real name in- stead of his we'll known pseudonym of "J. s. of Dale." The essays include another of W. O. Brownwell's admirable critical papers on French Traits"-this one deal. ing with Intelligence :" short, clear ex position of some phases of Municipal Finance" by Clayton c. Hall, an exper. in the subject; and "A New Light on Bal zac," by Edward s. Holden, president o the University of California, who is thor ough Balzac student. The poetry is abun dant and of great merit. It includes "White Edith, by Thomas Bailey Aldrich American Antiquities" by Andrew Lang with full page illustration "The Poet, ] by Charles Edwin Markham and othert by O. F. Cranch, Graham R. Tomson Rennell Rodd, and k. OAvazza.